We truly had a fantastic hike! We appreciate all the organizing and coordinating in making it a wonderful time. Thank you for all of your lugging and slugging! It was an unforgettable time!

--Carol, Carla, Liz, (Ontario) and Sabine (Austria)

I also very much appreciated both your help (and patience!). It was definitely an incredible trip and one I won't ever forget.

--Tracy, British Columbia

The guides were very very professional and I felt very safe in terrain which is different from North Yorkshire. They produced meals from those rucksacks which my husband thought I was pulling his leg. We did see some envious looks from fellow campers too.

--Kate, Scarborough, Great Britain

Thank you for an excellent West Coast Trail trip. I really appreciate all your hard work and guiding skills. It is what made the trip so memorable.

--Kevin, Northwest Territories

We had a great time and all the aches and pains were worth it!! By the time we got back to my house we were feeling great. Elaine felt very proud of herself. Anyhow, I think you are amazing guide and I hope we didn't wear you out!

The West Coast Trail is a premiere adventure destination on Vancouver Island.

The full 75 km is also a challenging hiking trail, through muddy forest, along a variety of boardwalk sections, and along sandy beaches. This hike requires careful preparation and planning, and is not suited to everyone’s idea of fun.

However, the West Coast trail is much more than a challenging hike. It is a breathtakingly beautiful hike, if you give yourself time and allow us to show you the best locations. Hidden along its pathways, the West Coast Trail also has remnants of history that take you through the footsteps of the First Peoples, European settlers, mariners, and the lives of the few that currently choose the west coast as their home.

In addition to the full 75 km tours, Coastal Bliss Adventures now offers scheduled and custom West Coast Trail Mini Adventures for those who want to enjoy the beauty, history, and culture of this amazing area. We tell stories of the First Peoples, the shipwrecks, the settlers, and the local heroes that shaped this place and allowed Canadians to recognize it as a national treasure.

This four day mini adventure explores highlights of the trail, such as Tsusiat Falls, an old Ditidaht Warrior village at Tsuquadra, hidden caves, and the location of early European settlements near the Cheewhat River. Watch whales feeding near the beach, eat local seafood, and conditions permitting, take a boat ride out through Nitinat Narrows on a marine life tour.

West Coast Trail Video

West Coast Trail Map

(Because we are travelling in wilderness, itineraries can change. There are many factors that can affect how a tour actually runs.)

Day 1

Our van picks you up from a hotel near Swartz Bay or Victoria. (Nanaimo pickups can be made by arrangement.) The start of the drive takes you over the scenic Malahat highway to Cowichan Bay (1hr), where we head west to Cowichan Lake, (a short stop to buy any forgotten items). We will have lunch on route. Our journey takes us along an unpaved road to the Carmanah /Walbran Provincial Park, which is home to some of the world’s largest spruce and gnarled cedars trees. Some of these trees are estimated to be over 1,000 years old.

Following this walk through the old growth we will drive to the Ditidaht First Nations village at the end of Nitinat Lake.

Day 2

Our boat ride up Nitinat Lake leaves from the dock at 8am. We will be taken through the famous Nitinat Narrows and be treated to a whale and marine watching tour, before being dropped off at the narrows, for a 2.5 km hike to Tsuquadra (Comfort Camping). Tsuquadra was once home to over 600 young Ditidaht warriors, who stood watching over the seas, guarding the entrance to the Nitinat Lake. Remains of longhouses can be seen among the trees and between the newly built tented cabins. This site also has a beautifully secluded beach, with several caves. The world famous West Coast Trail runs alongside Tsuquadra. We will spend the night relaxing at this simple, yet beautiful resort.

Day 3

We will hike along a section of the West Coast Trail to one of its most spectacular natural features, Tsusiat Falls. On route, or on our return (tide dependant), we will spend time at ‘Hole in the Wall’. Arriving at Tsusiat after most hikers have moved on, we may have this tranquil location to ourselves, to enjoy swimming under the Falls and relaxing on the beach. We will head back to our camp at Tsuquadra during the afternoon.

Day 4

We will hike back along the trail to the Nitinat Narrows, along cliffs overlooking the west coast and Olympic Peninsula. Once across the narrows we will hike to the Cheewaht River and the long, sandy beach there, where unsuspecting families once purchased land from the West Coast Development Company with the promise of a new life and community. Despite the beauty of this place, its remoteness and unrelenting winter storms made it inhospitable. All that remains now is an old school house and stories of the people and their struggle to make the best of their lives. We will share some of these stories with you, whale watch from the beach, where humpbacks feed close by. After lunch, we will hike back to the narrows. The ferry dock serves up fresh crab, salmon or Halibut, and baked potatoes. We will feast on this before the boat journey back to the Nitinat Lake village and our van. From here we will decide on our driving route back to Victoria via Cowichan Lake retracing our incoming route, or along the Pacific Marine Circuit route and Port Renfrew.

*Please note: Our itinerary is subject to change due to weather conditions and safety considerations. It may be necessary to shift the whale and Marine life tour to an alternate day, and in rare situations cancel this activity (Costs related to this would be reimbursed).

This tour will run with a minimum of 2 people, however, we will run it for a single person with a supplement of $300.

This tour starts in Victoria. You need to arrange your transportation to and from Victoria.

BC Ferries 1-888-BC FERRY (1-888-223-3779)
We will let you know the ferry to take for travelling to Vancouver Island, but if you want to check out times, you can go the the BC Ferries website at:www.bcferries.com/schedules/

Victoria Pick up & Airport Hotels
Pick up: Schwartz Bay Ferry Terminal, or the following Accommodations near the ferry or airport:

Travelodge Sydney Airport Hotel
Travelodge may offer Coastal Bliss Guests a lower rate per night (ask us for the discount code before you book) and is an easy place for us to pick you up/drop you off before and after your tour with us. 2280 Beacon Avenue, Sidney, BC, CA, V8L 1X1
Phone:1 250 656 1176
Fax: 1-250-656-7344
Reservation: 1-866-656-1176
info@airporttravelodge.com http://www.airporttravelodge.com/

Hotel Zed
Hotel Zed is near downtown Victoria, but not right downtown. It has built up a very good reputation and has reasonable rates. Ask for Coastal Bliss Adventures Special Room Rate when making your reservation.3110 Douglas Ave. Victoria, BC, CA, V8Z 3K4
Phone:1 250 388 4345 Or 1 800 997 6797
victoria@hotelzed.comhttps://www.hotelzed.com

If you are staying in Victoria after the tour, consider these near downtown Victoria accommodations:

How you prepare for your adventure is important. Being well prepared will enhance the quality of your experience. Because we are travelling in wilderness, it is very important for you and for the rest of your adventure group that you are fit enough to handle the level of difficulty and demand with no problems. Our guides know how to minimize the impact of these demands as much as possible, but they cannot remove them. The depth of your experience can only increase if you have made sure that you have prepared well.

Your preparation will be different for different activities. Preparing for a kayak trip is different from preparing for a hiking trip. We have provided some basic information that can be downloaded through the following links to pdf documents. If you do not have the Adobe Reader, you can download it from the Adobe site by clicking here.

Use the links below to download some of the preparation files for this hiking tour. When you book your tour, we will send you a complete preparation packet to help you get ready. We've also included a couple of infographics to help you along.

“If you do follow your bliss you put yourself on a kind of track that has been there all the while, waiting for you, and the life that you ought to be living is the one you are living. Follow your bliss and don't be afraid, and doors will open where you didn't know they were going to be.”
― Joseph Campbell

Single Person: This option is available for those who really want to take this tour, but the tour has only one person booked (you). We will run the trip for you as a custom, personal experience for the supplemental cost of $300 to cover the overheads.

Easy to Moderate: Some trail sections require assistance. Sections can be slippery and muddy. Weather can be a significant factor. Hiking times may be up to 5 hours per day.